What is Heaven?

[logician]

The etherial carrot used by religion to gain believers.

 

[Sunstone]

It's not very ubiquitous. Different cultures approach the concept in very different ways. Though I'd tend to agree that religion, in some ways, is inherent in humanity to a certain extent because it's often useful for survival.

I don't think the differences between cultures in the concept of heaven are so great as to rule out an innate source for the concept. But that seems to me a matter of opinion, in which case we'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[Politesse]

Has anyone had a vision?

You know, I had a dream of heaven once. I've never really decided whether to make anything of it or not, whether it was important or just one of those things.

 

[Kriya Yogi]

If hell is eternal separation from God, heaven is eternal union with God.

This! It is realizing your oneness with God and being free from all delusions of separateness from our Divine Mother. My Guru says it is eternal evernew, ever existing bliss, joy, love, and expansion beyond any comprehension. God's beauty, wisdom, love, bliss, and joy is always and ever with you in this state. You are then connected and see everything in existance as an idea of God. Yet you have compassion and deep love for all of your fellow men and beings. It's why Jesus and different avatars come back. They know we suffer and want us to experience the heaven in which they eternally have.

 

[Kriya Yogi]

Like most words, it can have several meanings.

In eastern religions, it often describes a temporary state of bliss, achievable by good people, yet not particularly desirable because it is fleeting and impermanent.

Its not a temporary state. Nirvikalpa samadhi is permanent. It is also said to be more desirable then anything any normal consciousness can imagine.

 

[Sunstone]

You know, I had a dream of heaven once. I've never really decided whether to make anything of it or not, whether it was important or just one of those things.

You just expressed the same thought I had, but much better than I could.

 

[dust1n]

The inability to perceive any longer shortly after death.

 

[Penumbra]

Its not a temporary state. Nirvikalpa samadhi is permanent. It is also said to be more desirable then anything any normal consciousness can imagine.

We're referring to different heavens. Buddhism and Hinduism contain a permanent end-state, but often claim existence of various realms that one can be born into that are higher than this one, yet temporary. Generally, I don't see Buddhists or Hindus refer to Nirvana or Moksha with the word "heaven".

 

[Kriya Yogi]

We're referring to different heavens. Buddhism and Hinduism contain a permanent end-state, but often claim existence of various realms that one can be born into that are higher than this one, yet temporary. Generally, I don't see Buddhists or Hindus refer to Nirvana or Moksha with the word "heaven".

Well that wouldn't be heaven and yes they don't usually refer heaven as heaven. They have different wording but it is permanent once achieved.

 

[Penumbra]

Well that wouldn't be heaven and yes they don't usually refer heaven as heaven. They have different wording but it is permanent once achieved.

I know, but I wasn't talking about the permanent one. I was talking about various heavenly or deva realms that many Buddhists and Hindus believe in.

The main point I was making was that Abrahamic and Dharmic religions concepts of heaven are very different.

Abrahamic religions have a permanent paradise. Many denominations believe one keeps their glorified body forever, on a physical planet. Others view it was more spiritual. But generally one keeps their individuality.

Dharmic religions have temporary heavens that, when described, sound a lot like Abrahamic concepts of heaven but are considered temporary. Their true goal is Nirvana or Moksha, which are concepts that differ substantially from Abrahamic heavens.

 

[Meow Mix]

What is heaven? Please describe it.

Heaven is when you order a 6 piece chicken nugget meal but you get 7 and a switchblade.

(<3 Wondershowzen)

 

[waitasec]

What is heaven? Please describe it.

heaven doesn't mean the same as it did in the early church or OT times

the "kingdom of heaven" is when the jews were to reach a state of independence and were to live peacefully...

 

[Reptillian]

Heaven:

Hell: